Jorge Martin brilliantly turned pole position at the Sachsenring into race victory while the Red Bull MotoGP Cup leader Karel Hanika was dusting the dirt off his Alpinestars leathers after a last lap crash from the lead in the opening Red Bull Rookies race in Germany.
The 17-year-old Czech was trying to break away from a seven rider battle for the win when the rear tyre let go, he caught the slide only to clash with Stefano Manzi as he tried to get back on line, then slid off the track unhurt.
Manzi, the 14-year-old Italian, held the lead but was then pounced on by Scott Deroue, the 17-year-old Netherlander who had Martin, the 15-year-old Spaniard, on his tail. When Deroue only changed down to 4th instead of 3rd for the penultimate corner, the sweeping left hander at the bottom of the hill, it killed his drive and both Martin and Manzi swept past to take first and second.
Deroue won last year's Race 1 and was not too distressed to mount the third step of the podium.
‰ÛÏIt was a great race, very tough and I really thought I had it worked out on the last lap, I was going for the win, had the lead then just messed up the gears at the bottom of the hill." Deroue stated. "Still there is another chance tomorrow and I think that we can still improve the bike a little bit.‰Û
